The orphanage

Oxana, our attorney is in the process of finishing the paperwork. When she is done she will submit it to court and to the SDA. Jeff and I are just waiting. Today was Saturday, the kids did not have school so we were able to spend more time with them.

We spent longer at the orphanage than we have yet. We played outside with the kids for a little while but I could not take it for very long. I find my emotions are very close to the surface here. I can't describe to you how sad it is. Whenever we come the kids swarm around me. They all hold out their hands to touch me and they all tell me their names and want me to talk to them. If I hug one or touch one they all want the same. It is the most heart wrenching experience ever. I am only taking two and there are so many left behind. They are all filthy including our girls but I can't help hugging and kissing them. They want love so much.


The girls are very protective of us and have a hard time when we give the other kids attention. Jeff and I feel bad for the other kids it is difficult to only focus on ours. I finally told Jeff and Wendy that I couldn't take anymore. We took our kids and a few of the others that came on the Utah trip and we walked down to the store. We bought the kids snacks and then we took them to the park. We had to pay to get on the playground.




We then took them to Monsters vs. Aliens in Russian. Now I know how they felt when I took them to an English movie at home.

Sveta has always called me mama, but today for the first time Lena called me mama instead of Amy. It makes my heart feel all funny inside. What a feeling!

The girls didn't want us to leave them at the orphanage tonight. This is going to be a hard month, leaving them there, dirty and alone - even if it is only for a night.


They anxiously wait for us each day and come running when the other children tell them their mama and papa are here.



Jeff took a video of our interpreter Masha tonight. She is lots of fun. She is teaching me how to cook Ukranian food so that I will be able to make some familiar foods for the girls when I bring them home. She lives with us, but will be leaving on Monday after the legal part of this is done. I find I am speaking English like her now. She really makes us laugh.



Also Jeff took pictures of the fish snacks the kids eat. They are so disgusting. The smell, the taste and the kids breathe when they are done eating them.